Convertible trailer

Abstract

A trailer having a chassis, a set of wheels for rollably supporting the chassis on the ground, and a rigid container carried by the chassis. The rigid container includes a floor, a sidewall, an access door for loading/unloading materials into the container, and a convertible rigid roof. The convertible roof is movable between a closed position which permits waste or other materials to be compressed into the trailer, and an open position which permits the trailer to be loaded with bulk goods from the top. The convertible roof includes movable rigid panels, and a locking bar for holding the panels closed and connecting the opposite sidewalls of the trailer to each other against the expansion pressure exerted by loosely compressed materials transported in the trailer. The panels may be rotating panels hinged to a wall, or may be provided as sliding panels running in tracks.

1. A convertible trailer comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a set of wheels for rollably driving said chassis on the ground; 
 a rigid container carried by the chassis comprising a floor, a wall, and a roof; 
 an access door for loading loosely compressed materials into the container; 
 said roof including a movable rigid panel connected to the wall of the container, and movable between a closed position wherein the panel forms part of a solid roof that permits the container to be loaded with loosely compressed materials from the access door, and an open position wherein the container can be loaded from the top with bulk material; and 
 a locking bar for selectively maintaining the panel in the closed position against outward pressure exerted by the loosely compressed materials when loaded in the container and for strengthening the wall against the outward pressure. 
 
     
     
       2. The convertible trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a rotation mechanism for moving the panel between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       3. The convertible trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the roof includes a stationary portion, and a convertible portion. 
     
     
       4. The convertible trailer of  claim 2 , wherein the container is rectangular shaped, and the wall of the container includes a rear wall, a front wall and two opposite sidewalls. 
     
     
       5. The convertible trailer of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation mechanism is stoppable at any position of the panels. 
     
     
       6. A convertible trailer, comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a set of wheels for rollably driving said chassis on the ground; 
 a rigid container carried by the chassis comprising a floor, a wall, and a roof; 
 an access door for loading loosely compressed materials into the container; 
 said roof including a movable rigid panel connected to the wall of the container, and movable between a closed position wherein the panel forms part of a solid roof that permits the container to be loaded with loosely compressed materials from the access door, and an open position wherein the container can be loaded from the top with bulk material; and 
 a locking bar for selectively maintaining the panel in the closed position against outward pressure exerted by the loosely compressed materials when loaded in the container and for strengthening the wall against the outward pressure; 
 wherein the container includes a rear wall, a front wall and two opposite sidewalls; and 
 wherein the roof includes two panels, one panel connected to one of the sidewalls and the other panel connected to one of the rear and front walls. 
 
     
     
       7. The convertible trailer of  claim 6 , wherein the convertible roof includes three panels, one connected to one of the sidewalls, and the other two are connected to the front and rear walls. 
     
     
       8. The convertible trailer of  claim 6 , wherein the convertible roof includes three panels, one connected to one of the front and rear walls, and the other two are connected to the sidewalls. 
     
     
       9. The convertible trailer of  claim 6 , wherein the convertible roof includes four panels, one panel connected to each wall. 
     
     
       10. A convertible trailer comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a set of wheels for rollably driving said chassis on the ground; 
 a rigid container carried by the chassis comprising a floor, a wall, and a roof; 
 an access door for loading loosely compressed materials into the container; 
 said roof including a movable rigid panel connected to the wall of the container, and movable between a closed position wherein the panel forms part of a solid roof that permits the container to be loaded with loosely compressed materials from the access door, and an open position wherein the container can be loaded from the top with bulk material; and 
 a locking bar for selectively maintaining the panel in the closed position against outward pressure exerted by the loosely compressed materials when loaded in the container and for strengthening the wall against the outward pressure; 
 wherein the container includes a rear wall, a front wall and two opposite sidewalls; and 
 wherein the roof includes two panels hinged to the opposite sidewalls of the container, and wherein the locking bar is secured to one panel and includes an opening which overlaps at least one threaded hole in the other panel when the panels are in closed position, for releasably locking two panels in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       11. The convertible trailer of  claim 10 , wherein the locking bar is provided adjacent and substantially aligned with the hinges connecting the panels to the sidewalls, for connecting the opposite sidewalls to each other against the outward pressure exerted by the loosely compressed materials compacted in the trailer. 
     
     
       12. A convertible container for bulk goods or loosely compacted materials, comprising:
 a floor; 
 a wall with 
 an access door for loading loosely compressed materials into the container; 
 a roof, said roof including a movable rigid panel connected to the wall of the container, and movable between a closed position wherein the panel forms part of a solid roof that permits the container to be loaded with loosely compressed materials from the access door, and an open position wherein the container can be loaded from the top with bulk material; and 
 a locking bar for selectively maintaining the panel in the closed position against outward pressure exerted by the loosely compressed materials when loaded in the container and for strengthening the wall against the outward pressure. 
 
     
     
       13. A convertible trailer comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a set of wheels for rollably driving said chassis on the ground; 
 a rigid container carried by the chassis comprising a floor, a roof, a front wall, a rear wall and two sidewalls; 
 an access door for loading loosely compressed materials into the container; 
 said roof including a plurality of rigid sliding panels movable in tracks between a closed position wherein the panels form part of a solid roof that permits the container to be loaded with loosely compressed materials from the access door, and an open position wherein the container can be loaded from the top with bulk material; and 
 a locking bar for selectively maintaining the panel in the closed position against outward pressure exerted by the loosely compressed materials when loaded in the container and for strengthening the wall against the outward pressure. 
 
     
     
       14. The convertible trailer of  claim 13 , wherein the sliding panels move in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the trailer. 
     
     
       15. The convertible trailer of  claim 14 , wherein some of the panels move toward one of the sidewalls and the other panels move toward the opposite sidewall to open. 
     
     
       16. The convertible trailer of  claim 13 , wherein the sliding panels move in a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the trailer. 
     
     
       17. The convertible trailer of  claim 16 , wherein some of the panels move toward the rear wall and the other panels move toward the front wall to open. 
     
     
       18. The convertible trailer of  claim 13 , wherein the container is provided with a drive mechanism for moving the panels between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       19. The convertible trailer of  claim 18 , wherein the drive mechanism is stoppable at any position of the panels. 
     
     
       20. The convertible trailer of  claim 13 , wherein the roof includes a stationary portion, and a convertible portion.